L.A. Times - Fashion & Style

Aviator Nation's founder always looks on the bright side

Booth Moore — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Entrepreneur Paige Mycoskie revels in 1970s nostalgia and the California beach lifestyle. Her optimistic disposition catches on.

Walking into the Aviator Nation store on Abbot Kinney in Venice is like stumbling into a frat house with a feminine touch. Steely Dan, Doors and Grateful Dead album covers and vintage skate decks nailed to the walls, a record player spinning Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion," a "720 Degrees" arcade game in the corner, stacks and stacks of foam trucker hats, T-shirts and hoodies spreading good vibes like "Pray for Surf" and "California Is For Lovers".... It's such a sensory experience, you half expect your shoes to be sticking to the floor from last night's kegger.

The once-humble slip-on sneaker steps up in style – and price

By Adam Tschorn — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

A look at a few of the luxe versions available.

Thanks to the fashion world's enthusiastic embrace of surf/skate culture over the decades, the Vans-style slip-on sneaker — a simple, unadorned, lace-free upper attached to a rubber sole — has become an instantly recognizable Southern California silhouette and an uncluttered canvas for self-expression, not only for Vans, but also for countless other brands.

New 'Arrested Development': All re-dressed up and ready to go

By Adam Tschorn — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

'Arrested Development' costume designer Katie Sparks talks about the challenges posed by revisiting the quirky Bluth family seven years later.

"Arrested Development" costume designer Katie Sparks, whose efforts on the first two seasons of the Fox sitcom earned her a 2006 nomination from the Costume Designers Guild of America, was tapped by series creator Mitchell Hurwitz to work on the new streaming-to-Netflix season that will be released May 26. She recently spoke about her work on the original series and the challenges posed by revisiting — and re-dressing — the quirky Bluth family after a seven-year hiatus. And, for the first time, she explained how she found a perfect pair of denim cutoffs for the "never nude" Tobias Fünke.

Workout clothes that work outside the gym too

By Ingrid Schmidt — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Trendy fitness centers are producing stylish workout clothes that aren't just for sweating in.

Tracy Anderson

Rash guards that do double duty as streetwear

By Melissa Magsaysay — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

A new wave of rash guards by brands like J. Crew and Tory Burch comes in bright, feminine styles ready for sport and fun.

Action sports and high fashion may not seem like the most likely of companions, but in the past decade designers have done more than dip a toe into surf culture; they have embraced the easygoing, sun-drenched lifestyle common to Southern California and found plenty of inspiration.

Custom swimwear that suits your fancy

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Designers in Los Angeles and Orange counties make custom swimwear that they promise will make a splash.

Palmela Green sits amid hundreds of fabric rolls in her West L.A. swimsuit shop, surrounded by pink and red sequins, animal prints, knits and faux furs. A photo of one of her recent projects, a swimsuit in a Lexus ad, is proudly displayed on a wall.

A skin-care line that is not just another pretty toxic face

By Melissa Magsaysay — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

With Santa Monica-based Beautycounter, Gregg Renfrew aims to build a skin-care empire that puts safety front and center.

Gregg Renfrew wants to change the way people live, starting with their cosmetics.

Giorgio Armani's niece Roberta has star power of her own

Booth Moore — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Giorgio Armani's niece is a good fit for her role as ambassador to Hollywood's stars

There are few designers working today who have had as big an influence on fashion as Giorgio Armani.

A hair-loss solution that goes beyond wigs and toupees

By Ingrid Schmidt — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

A slew of businesses specialize in hairpieces, some hand-designed, that look natural for both women and men.

It almost goes without saying that hair is huge business in Hollywood. Healthy, beautifully coiffed and colored locks are a key calling card for those in the spotlight. Exhibit A: Jennifer Aniston's headline-generating honey-blond shag, hyped year after year by fashion magazines as the "best hair in Hollywood."

Orange County shoemaker counts his star clients by the foot

By Adam Tschorn — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:03:00 PDT

George Esquivel and his crew handcraft shoes in Buena Park, blending European luxury with a suntanned California easiness.

There's magic afoot in Orange County that has nothing to do with a giant mouse or a legendary berry farm and everything to do with George Esquivel and his band of craftsmen who, for more than a decade, have been hand-cobbling high-end shoes for a who's who of the well-heeled, including rock stars, NBA players, politicians and Hollywood heavyweights of every stripe.